SPACE (Supporting Parents and Children Emotionally)

by Ness Little HSK Parent & Family Lead

What is SPACE?

SPACE is a new offer for professionals working with parents and carers that does not replicate any other parenting intervention currently available in Cornwall.

Building on current trauma informed training and practice already being delivered across the county SPACE provides an accessible, flexible toolkit of high-quality resources for professionals, enabling them to work with groups of parents and carers. The programme aims for parents and carers to: gain an understanding of the impact of early life experiences on themselves as parents and on their children, learn to see behaviour as a form of communication, and look at the causes and triggers of behaviours and develop strategies for building resilience in themselves and their children.

SPACE is a relationship-based delivery model which actively advocates and promotes working in partnership alongside parents. Supporting parents and carers to recognise the impact of adult behaviours on children, and how they can develop the protective behaviours to support both themselves and their children. Core to the programme is enabling each participant to be freed of the myth that they are defined by their experiences, but rather there is always capacity for change.

A universal programme intended for all parents, SPACE supports in the building of knowledge and learning that promotes a good understanding of both children’s and adult’s emotional health, wellbeing and behaviour and how life experiences can influence this. With particular emphasis on the maintenance of positive emotional, mental health and wellbeing for the whole family, SPACE also providing parents and carers with take away strategies to implement at home.

Once trained, facilitators will be able to deliver a 5-week education programme to groups of parents/carers offering practical activities and insights into the neuroscience behind trauma, attachment theories, toxic stress responses and why protective factors are important.

Addressing topics such as:

• Biological Stress responses
• Impact of ACEs and trauma
• Attachment theories and nurturing parents
• Understanding behaviour and resilience
• Protective behaviours
• Child development milestones
• Managing difficult emotions
• Importance of self-care and nurturing children
• Healthy relationships

For further information, or to discuss e-mail us at space@cornwall.gov.uk

SPACE CYP (for Children and Young People)

What is SPACE CYP?

SPACE CYP is the newest offer from the SPACE toolkit for professionals working with children and young people. SPACE CYP differs from other interventions currently available to children and young people in Cornwall.

Building on current trauma informed training and practice that has influenced how we as professionals work with children and young people SPACE CYP provides an accessible, flexible toolkit of high-quality resources for trained facilitators, enabling them to work with groups of children and young people.

SPACE CYP like SPACE is a relationship-based delivery model which actively advocates and promotes working in partnership alongside children and young people whether you are a parent/carer or professional. Designed to mirror SPACE, SPACE CYP can be delivered concurrently to support whole family learning, as well as support children and young people to develop independently. Helping children and young people to recognise and understand triggers behind behaviour and how they can manage this through self-soothing, self-regulation and self-compassion.  Why communication is key and why promoting healthy protective behaviours is at the core of developing resilience in both themselves and in their relationships with others. The programme recognises that each child / young person may have been shaped by their experiences, but that this does not need to continue to define them and that there is always capacity for change.

A universal programme intended for all children and young people, SPACE CYP supports in the building of knowledge and learning (complimentary to PSHE/SRE) throughout the 5 weeks to help children and young people gain a good understanding of the importance of emotional health, wellbeing in relation to themselves, others and their family. With particular emphasis on how to maintain positive emotional, mental health and wellbeing by using the take away strategies which children and young people can implement at home.

Once trained, facilitators will be able to deliver a 5-week education programme to groups of children/young people offering practical activities and insights into the neuroscience behind development, trauma (delivered in a child/young person friendly way), attachment/relationships, stress responses, why protective factors are important and what children and young people need to feel safe

Addressing topics such as:

• The impact of stress
• The benefit of using grounding techniques
• The importance of protective factors e.g resilience  
• The rupture and repair cycle in relationships
• The benefits of healthy minds and bodies

SPACE CYP| 1 day Facilitator Training

This course is a top up for professionals already trained to deliver SPACE to parents/carers. Attending the 1 day course will provide facilitators with the additional toolkit to be able to deliver SPACE CYP to children and young people

SPACE CYP| 2 day Facilitator Training

This course is for professionals who have not previously completed training to deliver SPACE to parents/carers. Attendance at the 2 day training will provide the full training required to deliver SPACE CYP

Completion of either course will enable professionals to run a 5 week (2 hours per week) programme with groups of children and young people

*Note – SPACE has been designed to enable facilitators to deliver to groups of children and young people. The activities and sessions included within the programme would make this toolkit more suited to group work but can be used in 1:1 work

Outlined below are upcoming course dates (delivered online):

Registration will close 2 weeks before each course to ensure enough time for course preparation, including sending out course materials.  

For more information and to register your interest in securing a place please e-mail us at space@cornwall.gov.uk